State law requires all public
schools, including open-enrollment public charter schools, to take specific
actions to support children of military families.
Each public school district and
open-enrollment public charter school shall designate a District Military
Education Coordinator (DMEC) to serve as the primary point of contact for
military-connected students and their parents or legal guardians.
Each public school district and
open-enrollment public charter school shall maintain a section on its website
dedicated to military families and post the name and contact information of its
DMEC.
All DMECs shall:
- Possess specialized knowledge regarding the
educational needs and unique challenges faced by children of military
families;
- Participate in the development and adoption of the
district's parent and family engagement plan, as required under Arkansas
Code Annotated § 6-15-1702; and
- Serve as a resource and navigator for military
families by connecting them to appropriate school resources and, upon
request, helping them connect with other military families within the
school community.
Each public school that enrolls
twenty (20) or more military-connected students by October 1 of each year shall
adopt the Purple Star School Program, developed by the Arkansas Council for
Military Children and approved by the Division of Elementary and Secondary
Education (DESE). Schools seeking Purple Star designation must designate a
staff member to serve as the Military Education Facilitator (MEF), who will
perform duties similar to those of the DMEC.
While schools with 20 or more
children of military families enrolled are required to become Purple Star
Schools, any school that wishes may become one.
Schools with fifteen (15) or more children of military families enrolled
are encouraged to become Purple Star Schools.
By September 1 of each year, each
public school district and open-enrollment public charter school shall provide
DESE with the name and contact information of its DMEC. Schools are also
encouraged to submit the same information for their MEFs.
Submit the required information
using the following link:
https://forms.gle/2NA3Wa7kRAPGJnbw8
DESE and the Arkansas Council for
Military Children will provide online basic training for DMECs and MEFs,
including an orientation to the Purple Star School Program. Participants need
attend only one session. Each session will last approximately one hour.
Training Schedule
- August 18, 2026 – 9:00 a.m.
- August 19, 2026 – 10:00 a.m.
- August 20, 2026 – 11:00 a.m.
- August 25, 2026 – 11:00 a.m.
- August 26, 2026 – 1:00 p.m.
- August 27, 2026 – 2:00 p.m.
- September 9, 2026 – 9:00 a.m.
- September 10, 2026 – 1:00 p.m.
- September 15, 2026 – 1:00 p.m.
- September 17, 2026 – 9:00 a.m.
Zoom Information
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82658879558
Meeting ID: 826 5887 9558
Beginning in September, DESE and
the Arkansas Council for Military Children will provide monthly update training
for DMECs and MEFs. Additional information and the training schedule will be
provided during the basic training sessions.